Norton Rose Fulbright > Frankfurt, Germany > Firm Profile

Norton Rose Fulbright > The Legal 500 Rankings

Transport > Maritime and shipping

Industry focus > Energy Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright 's competencies cover transactions, project work and financing, which are frequently called upon by financial investors, banks and energy companies in the context of charging infrastructure for electric cars, geothermal, hydrogen and solar energy as well as offshore wind. Klaus Bader heads the firm's European energy practice and routinely assists with cross-border M&A and private equity transactions in the geothermal energy sector. Related financing topics are covered by Dirk Trautmann, who is regularly instructed by lenders, sponsors and borrowers. The arrival of M&A expert Maximilian Findeisen from Eversheds Sutherland in September 2022 strengthened the practice's expertise in the transactions space.

Transport > Advice to the transport sector Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright team acts across the aviation, maritime, rail and road transport sectors, with a focus on supporting the financing and leasing of new vehicles as well as supporting PPP projects. Timo Noftz, who is experienced in drafting financing and leasing contracts, regularly takes the lead here and, in addition to transport companies, he also advises banks, lessors and funds; he shares this focus with senior consultant Ralf Springer (focus on the aviation and rail sectors), who is also well versed in restructuring-related matters. Markus Radbruch offers financing and leasing support in the aviation sector. Dirk Trautmann recently took the lead in matters pertaining to motorway projects and project financing, while Michael Jürgen Werner is frequently instructed on (contentious) antitrust and EU law matters.

Banking and finance > Project finance Tier 3

Norton Rose Fulbright advises on projects in the infrastructure and renewable energy sectors, including the financing of geothermal energy projects and PV systems as well as onshore and offshore wind energy projects; debt funds regularly instruct the team on the financing of PPP projects in the highway sector. Other clients include public sector players and sponsors, which benefit from the firm's cross-border and cross-practice cooperation, thus covering various interfaces, such as M&A. Practice head Dirk Trautmann complements this with expertise in asset and corporate financing.

Banking and finance > Real estate finance Tier 3

Norton Rose Fulbright's real estate finance team is integrated into the real estate practice led by Maren Stölting and thus comprehensively advises both lenders and borrowers on financing-related issues, such as real estate, tax and environmental law; clients also benefit from the frequent cross-location cooperation thanks to the international network. Andrea Spellerberg comprehensively covers credit financing matters, while Stefan Schramm is well versed in structured financing.

Capital markets > Debt capital markets Tier 3

With a focus on advising issuers and medium-sized banks, Norton Rose Fulbright's holistic approach to capital markets advice leads to regular instructions on issuance programs (EMTN programs, debt issuance programs, commercial paper programs) and issuance platforms as well as on the issuance of various secured and structured bonds; here, the practice recently experienced an increased demand for assistance with ESG-related bonds, such as green bonds and social bonds. Christoph Enderstein complements this with expertise in capital market-related supervisory law and, most recently, often advised on alternative provisions for reference interest rates related to floating rate notes. He jointly leads the practice with Frank Regelin, who, in addition to capital market transactions, also handles public takeovers and M&A deals.

Capital markets > Equity capital markets Tier 3

Norton Rose Fulbright advises on both sides of the capital market and has expertise in IPOs and capital increases as well as in stock corporation law and public M&A-related matters. The practice acts for issuers and banks in ongoing corporate and securities law issues and can also seamlessly handle cross-border matters involving its offices in London and the US. Practice heads Frank Regelin and Benedikt Gillessen both have extensive experience in stock corporation and capital markets law.

Insurance > Advice to insurers Tier 3

Since September 2022, Norton Rose Fulbright's insurance practice is led by Anne Fischer, formerly at A&O Shearman; she is well versed in transaction support as well as in insurance company and supervisory law. While the practice's traditionally strong focus on W&I matters has continuously expanded, recent instructions by well-known German insurers pertain to company law, governance, licensing, supervisory law as well as product design and distribution matters. In December 2022, Friederike Landauer (insurance law) joined the team as counsel from DLA Piper.

Real estate and construction > Real estate Tier 3

Norton Rose Fulbright's comprehensive expertise is drawn upon by (institutional) investors, real estate funds and companies in the context of individual property and portfolio transactions, project developments and in the asset management area. Thanks to the cross-practice cooperation, the team also covers related financing, tax and public law matters as well as litigation; Constanze Bandilla-Dany is a key contact for the latter. Maren Stölting (also co-head of real estate EMEA) heads the team, which includes Stefan Feuerriegel (transactions and project development), who was appointed to global head of real estate in January 2023, and Holger Wolf (transactions and financing); Wolf joined from White & Case LLP in April 2023.

Restructuring and insolvency > Restructuring Tier 3

Norton Rose Fulbright is frequently instructed by companies from the healthcare, automotive, telecoms, real estate and technology sectors on cross-border restructuring matters; the team also acts on behalf of creditors and investors. The mainstays include the advice on distressed M&A and restructuring with a particular focus on financial restructuring. Sylwia Maria Bea is experienced in insolvency law and distressed transactions and increasingly assits with reorganisations. Banking lawyer Oliver Sutter heads the practice and advises on recapitalisation and restructuring matters.

Banking and finance > Fintech Tier 4

Norton Rose Fulbright's multidisciplinary fintech team is led by corporate specialist Frank Henkel and focuses on transactions and takeovers. The practice also assists platform operators and (fintech) companies with German market entry, the development of digital payment platforms as well as investment law and regulatory issues pertaining to crypto-based products. Caroline Herkströter and Ute Brunner-Reumann, who both are experienced in regulatory matters, joined DLA Piper in the summer of 2023 and Anne Fischer (corporate and regulatory advice) joined the team from the same firm in November 2022.

Corporate and M&A > Corporate Tier 4

Corporate and M&A > M&A Tier 4

German and international clients from the energy, infrastructure, consumer goods and technology sectors regularly instruct Norton Rose Fulbright to advise on cross-border M&A transactions, joint ventures, carve-outs and corporate organisations, while the team also possesses expertise in assisting banks, insurance companies and other financial services providers with distressed M&A situations. Practice head Nils Rahlf advises strategic and financial investors on cross-border M&A, private equity and venture capital transactions, while Katrin Stieß primarily acts for technology companies, banks and financial investors. Recent team changes include the arrival of three partners from Eversheds Sutherland, including Maximilian Findeisen (cross-border M&A transactions and projects), Michael Prüßner (advising automotive and industrial companies) and Sven Schwenke (national and international private equity transactions) at the end of 2022 and the simultaneous arrival of corporate lawyer Anne Fischer from A&O Shearman, who is experienced in the insurance sector. Philipp Grzimek, who frequently acts in joint venture transactions and restructurings, joined GÖRG Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB in April 2023.

Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation Tier 4

In addition to advising international clients on corporate, post-M&A and commercial disputes, Norton Rose Fulbright's cross-border litigation practice is also experienced in product and product liability law; in the latter area, counsel Nikolas Smirra is considered a key contact. The practice is led by Jamie Nowak, who is well versed in commercial disputes, and further focuses on the representation of real estate funds, insurance companies and property management companies as well as on banking and commercial disputes.

Banking and finance > Lending and borrowing Tier 5

Norton Rose Fulbright's advisory capacities include acquisition, asset and corporate financing; banks and financial services providers primarly call upon this expertise as well as companies. Practice head Oliver Sutter and asset and project financing expert Timo Noftz regularly take the lead here; Noftz also focuses on the transport sector. Additionally, clients benefit from cross-border as well as cross-practice cooperation, including interfacing capital markets law, M&A and VC matters.

Intellectual property > Patent litigation: solicitors Tier 5

Clients in the life sciences, healthcare and technology sectors regularly turn to Norton Rose Fulbright in patent disputes and parallel matters such as freedom-to-operate opinions and due diligence issues. Practice head Clemens Rübel is experienced in the coordination and handling of international disputes, including those relating to standard-essential patents, and complements this with expertise in employee invention, competition and licensing law.

Intellectual property > Trade marks Tier 5

Norton Rose Fulbright is a renowned address for product piracy and border seizure advice and also assists with trade mark and domain portfolio management. Practice head Daniel Marschollek represents clients from the fashion and sporting goods, luxury goods and telecommunications sectors in contentious proceedings, where he applies his trade mark as well as design and copyright expertise.

Private equity > Transactions Tier 5

Norton Rose Fulbright regularly advises private equity investors on national and international mid-cap transactions with industry expertise in the technology, digitisation, fintech, financial services and healthcare sectors. The team is experienced in dealing with supervisory authorities in the regulated industries and clients also benefit from the cross-practice cooperation on matters pertaining to employment, antitrust, corporate and tax law as well as data protection and IT. The practice is led by Frank Henkel (PE, VC, corporate, M&A, fintech as well as investment and banking supervisory law) and Nils Rahlf (PE, VC, corporate, M&A and capital markets law). In September 2022, Michael Prüßner and Sven Schweneke (both PE, VC, corporate, M&A, investment funds), joined the team from Eversheds Sutherland, while Philipp Grzimek (PE and M&A) moved to GÖRG Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB in March 2023.

Germany > Antitrust Tier 6

Norton Rose Fulbright‘s mainstays include merger and investment control, antitrust damages, internal investigations and compliance. The Hamburg-based team is led by Tim Schaper (antitrust proceedings, abuse proceedings and merger control) and Brussels-based Michael Jürgen Werner, who routinely acts in proceedings before the EU Commission, the Federal Cartel Office and the European courts; The Brussels location also serves the interfaces with state aid law and foreign trade law. Jens Steger (antitrust law and merger control) joined from K&L Gates LLP in February 2024.

Germany > Tax Tier 6

Compliance

Private equity > Venture capital